Hometown Lesbian Rockers

With the increased visibility of vehicles like Bravo's "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," Siberia's t.a.T.u. or President Bush's same-sex marriage ban, it seems that 2004 could emerge as the defining year for the gay movement. This is where the Durham-based group, The Butchies, comes in. With an upcoming fourth album Make Yr Life, the group pumps up its fizzy brand of pop while remaining true to its nerdyfreakyqueer ideals, namely sensitive lyricisms and sweet, sweet melodies.

For the past six years, these three out-and-proud butch women--Kaia Wilson, lead vocals and guitar, Melissa York, drums and Alison Martlew, bass--have banded together to create riffin' tunes that, at their most saccharine, sound akin to Liz Phair if she still had a shred of indie cred and, at their most rawk, strike a pose similar to Nirvana on a severe pop-punk high.

To understand the sound and the songs, however, you have to know the band's dogma. "I'm proud of who I am. I'm no different from anyone else. I love. People love," remarks York. "I do love playing as who we are," echoes Martlew.

Wilson sees a particular problem with linking the band too strongly with its sexuality. "You wouldn't ask this of a straight band: 'Do you think the fact that you're heterosexual is more important than your music, because you sing a whole lot about heterosexuality?'" she says, exasperated. "You know nobody would ask the f--king Rolling Stones that question, so it's like no, that's only their experience."

This song is a perfect example of their newly-arrived departure in sonic texture and methodology evidenced on Make Yr Life. As hook-laden as anything in mainstream pop, the sing-along chorus and bouncy reverb scream its radio-readiness. The other tracks all sparkle in that same polished pop presentation way: a direct contrast to the previous three albums, where vocals and instrumentals were more raw. "We stopped holding ourselves so seriously," says York. "This time around there was a whole lot of pressure to make the right song, and you really just have to face those challenges. I think we did."

To help realize The Butchies' new direction, their longtime producer, mixer and engineer Greg Griffith was enlisted again for the album, but this time his role was expanded. "We made a decision in making this record that we were going to make a record that sonically sounded really good," says Wilson. "To that end, we really let [Griffith] produce us in a way that we've never really been produced before."

All of this--the identity issues, the modified song production, the video--can be seen as their bid for what they tongue-in-cheekily call "world domination." "The new sound is part of it," says York. "Before maybe I think there were so many barriers for us to cross, and we did get caught up in that, but now you know we're finally seeing the light at the end of that tunnel."

With a new record label (Yep Roc) behind them and newfound access to a publicist, a manager and a booking agent, they've not only completed their fourth album, but also have finalized plans for a national (and likely, international) tour. This time around, the band's goals include a possible MTV2 debut for the "Send Me You" clip as well as increased coverage in music publications worldwide. Indeed, this is make-it-or-break-it time from indie wunderkind to hopeful international pop stars for The Butchies.

"We do want to definitely broaden our audience," says York. "I think if we could crossover in this country it would be saying a lot, that people could accept us as lesbians and that they could accept our music."